Study finds link between relative lengths of index
and ring fingers in men and behaviour towards women.
Men with short index fingers and long ring fingers
are on average nicer towards women, and this
unexpected phenomenon stems from the hormones these
men have been exposed to in their mother’s womb,
according to a new study by researchers at McGill
University. The findings might help explain why
these men tend to have more children..
Bourbon virus
The virus, named Bourbon virus for the county where
the patient lived, is part of a group of viruses
called thogotoviruses. This is the first time a
virus in this group has been shown to cause human
illness in the United States and only the eighth
known case of thogotoviruses causing symptoms in
people.
The previously healthy man from eastern Kansas, USA,
sought medical care in late spring because of a
history of tick bite, fever, and fatigue. The man
had received multiple tick bites in the days before
becoming ill. The patient had thrombocytopenia and
leukopenia and was given doxycycline for a presumed
tickborne illness.
His condition did not improve. Multiorgan failure
developed, and he died 11 days after illness onset
from cardiopulmonary arrest.
Molecular and serologic testing results for known
tickborne pathogens were negative. However, testing
of a specimen for antibodies against Heartland virus
by using plaque reduction neutralization indicated
the presence of another virus. CDC researchers used
Advanced Molecular Detection (AMD): next-generation
sequencing and phylogenetic analysis identified the
virus as a novel member of the genus Thogotovirus.
Since viruses in this group (thogotoviruses) have
been linked to ticks or mosquitoes in parts of
Europe, Asia, and Africa, Bourbon virus might also
be spread through tick or other insect bites.
The Kansas man had received multiple tick bites in
the days before becoming ill.
For more information
The article was published in CDC’s Emerging
Infectious Diseases journal
What is Bourbon virus?
MDN |